Thread: Is a 05 motor the same as 04?

I have a 2004 comp g that I'm gonna be replacing the motor in and I found a motor for a 2005 that is a little bit cheaper. I'm trying to see what's different between the two. If it's the PCM?


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It will work without issue. The 05 may have a minor upgrade concerning connecting rods. 04's were supposed to get the improved ( lighter and stronger powder metal ), but, the supplier could not meet the deadline. Therefor, they did not get used until the 05 model year.

Ok thanks for the help.


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Originally Posted by TwiztdWun

It will work without issue. The 05 may have a minor upgrade concerning connecting rods. 04's were supposed to get the improved ( lighter and stronger powder metal ), but, the supplier could not meet the deadline. Therefor, they did not get used until the 05 model year.

Powder metal rods were not stronger. They were just cheaper to produce.

I talked to Ed Morad today and he said my best bet might be to buy a N/A motor and top swap it with my SC and heads. He said these SC motors are getting harder to find.


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That is what I did about a year ago. Found a 12k mile l26 for $315 from a salvage yard

Originally Posted by GTPpower

That is what I did about a year ago. Found a 12k mile l26 for $315 from a salvage yard

That seems to be the cheapest way to go.


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Originally Posted by GTPpower

Powder metal rods were not stronger. They were just cheaper to produce.

That's funny. I have actually seen the GM test as far as elasticity and compression fractures between the two and the powdered metal won hands down. I am not saying I read an article in a forum or heard from a guy that was my father's cousin's former college room mate. I mean I physically watched them pull a PM and a cast rod apart as well as compress them to the point of failure....and the PM rod was better than the cast rod. They must have been pulling a David Blaine on me that day.

Originally Posted by TwiztdWun

That's funny. I have actually seen the GM test as far as elasticity and compression fractures between the two and the powdered metal won hands down. I am not saying I read an article in a forum or heard from a guy that was my father's cousin's former college room mate. I mean I physically watched them pull a PM and a cast rod apart as well as compress them to the point of failure....and the PM rod was better than the cast rod. They must have been pulling a David Blaine on me that day.

This must be your first day discussing a 3800.

It's old news that a l36/l67 is stronger than a l26/l32.

No just saying.......I seen that actual test that GM did....watched the rods destroyed in front of my eyes. The PM rod that I was shown........ which was a PM 3800 rod versus the cast rod survived longer. Unless there is something I am missing, the elasticity and compression failure test pretty much says it all.

Real world testing speaks for itself. Multiple l26's have let loose at 400whp over the past year.

l26's throw rods like its going out of style in higher hp cars l67's take it like a champ, im going to try out an l36 in my next build and see how it holds up, l26's are great motors for a supercharged build tho

I wonder if they changed suppliers on these then.......or multiple suppliers to keep up with demand and some were hit/miss? Keep in mind, I was seeing this done back in '03-04 time frame. Glad I have you guys around to keep me straight.

Also, GTP, I am headed your direction next week. Lincoln, NE. Anything fun to do over there?

Sad to say it, but not really a whole lot to do this time of year. The only time I usually go to Lincoln is for football games, and those are pretty much over for the year. Of course there's your typical places to eat, and O street is packed with bars, which are usually packed on the weekend.